Governments could relieve the pressure on the NHS by investing in upgrades to social housing, according to a new study carried out by researchers at Swansea University.

The National Institute for Health Research reports the study suggests that making home improvements could help to considerably reduce emergency hospital admissions.

Cold houses are thought to cause 33% of respiratory and 40% of cardiovascular diseases. An estimated 12.8 excess deaths per 100,000 occur due to living in inadequately heated houses.

The university’s researchers worked with data from residents of nearly nine thousand council homes in Carmarthenshire, between 2007 and 2016. Residents received improvements to their homes, including new heating and electrical systems, wall and loft insulation, new kitchens and bathrooms, windows and doors, and garden paths.

Hospital admission data were linked to information provided by Carmarthenshire County Council on each of the homes that received improvements. Researchers then compared the number of hospital admissions for tenants who lived in homes with the improvements to those whose homes had not yet been improved. They found substantial decreases in the number of hospital admissions for those in the improved homes.

Findings showed a substantial decrease of up to 39% in emergency admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, as well as fall and burn injuries. This was for tenants aged sixty and over, but there were similar results for all ages. Prescribed asthma medications and GP visits also dropped for residents of all ages.

Dr Sarah Rodgers, Professor at Swansea University Medical School, who led the study, said “Our findings showed that housing upgrades could reduce the strain on the NHS and release beds for planned admissions.”

Cllr Linda Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council Executive Board Member for Housing, said “We have already used the heath evaluation results and study team recommendations to update our development plans. We encourage the adoption of the recommendations by local authorities around the UK and further afield. Making small changes in housing policy improves health, which also carries social, economic and environmental benefits for all.”

Dr Helen Walters, NIHR Clinical Advisor and Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said “NIHR is always keen to fund research into key determinants of health, such as housing. These are important results that can inform and help to support effective and efficient decision making for those in local government.”

This article was updated on July 23rd 2018 to link to a different source because the original source was no longer available.